ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has made headlines after the NFL Draft, particularly for his strong feelings about quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Kiper had spent two and a half days passionately advocating for Sanders to be drafted, expressing frustration when he fell out of the first four rounds. His disappointment turned to outrage when the Cleveland Browns selected Sanders with the 144th overall pick.
During the broadcast, Kiper did not hold back his criticism of the NFL’s drafting decisions. He labeled the league as “clueless” when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks. His frustration was evident as he questioned why Sanders was not picked earlier in the draft.
Co-host Louis Riddick tried to explain that the issue was not about Sanders’ ability to play but rather about teams’ willingness to choose him. Kiper, however, was unconvinced, insisting that Sanders is one of the toughest quarterbacks he has seen.
Rece Davis, another co-host, attempted to calm the situation by emphasizing that teams have their own reasons for their draft choices. He suggested that the challenges Sanders faced could ultimately help him prove himself in the league. But Kiper doubled down on his criticism, stating that the NFL has struggled with quarterback evaluations for decades.
It’s worth noting that Kiper has made his own misjudgments in quarterback evaluations over the years. He famously vowed to retire if Jimmy Clausen, a former Notre Dame quarterback, did not succeed in the NFL. Clausen did not have a notable career. Kiper also compared JaMarcus Russell, a draft bust, to Hall of Famer John Elway, and predicted that Ricky Stanzi would have the best career of the 2011 draft class, which did not happen.
Kiper’s passionate defense of Sanders highlights the ongoing debate about how quarterbacks are evaluated in the NFL. While he believes in Sanders’ potential, the league’s decisions continue to puzzle analysts and fans alike.